What do I eat?

If I haven't convinced you to join the 21 Day Challenge or to read the book Made to Crave, that's okay, I am gonna pound more of the concepts they share into you anyway! ha ha!
Here is a quote from Day 12 in the 21 Day Challenge:

"For years, I walked around with a little heart-shaped cup in my soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart-shaped cup and expect a husband to love us in ways that rights our wrongs and fills up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good and feel validated by their accomplishments. Or, we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.
At times, I have asked the impossible of all of these. But my consistent “friend” of choice over the years has been food. Imagine my little heart-shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets and snacks to soothe my emotions.
However, if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on God’s truths and stand secure in His love."

This really hit home for me. How many times have I tried to mentally validate myself by thinking about my success at work, or church, or as a mom, or as a wife?  How many times did I long for my husband to smother me with compliments and flatter to feel secure? I know that my value is not determined by my size. I got that covered about 30 some pounds ago.   But when I feel down I sometimes look somewhere else for validation than in my truth before God.  
In the book there is a section where Lysa encourages the read to insert her name in the following phrases here is what Jill Tracey posted on her own Made to Crave blog the other day:

Insert your name in the list of statements below. How does this understanding of how God sees you impact the circumstance-based view of your identity you listed in response to question:
Jill, the forgiven child of God (Rom 3:24)
Jill, the set-free child of God. (Rom8:1-2)
Jill, the accepted child of God (1 Cor 1:2);
Jill, the holy child of God (1 Cor 1:30)
Jill, the made-new child of God (2 Cor 5:17)
Jill, the loved child of God (Eph 1:4)
Jill, the close child of God (Eph 2:13)
Jill, the confident child of God (Eph 3:12)
Jill, the victorious child of God (Rom 8:37)
What a great reminder that all of those statements above are part of who I am or the
decisions and journeys I've gone through to become this woman right now in 2011. But, they are not WHO I am. I am God's girl. I am God's woman. I am a creation of and follower of Jesus! I saw a movie recently where a grandmother told her granddaughter something along the lines of "our past experiences and choices are what make us who we are". I used to subscribe to that way of thinking. And, yes, these things do play a part. But GOD makes us who we are. And GOD uses our past mistakes, successes and experience as well as so much more to mold us into the person HE wants us to be. Sometimes we resist this shaping of our character, but He is the one who makes us who we are! Such good news!!!

That is where I have been able to make the connection. Not only do I not need the unhealthy food, I don't want it.  I would rather find what I need in Jesus Christ. THE REAL "fix" for what I am craving. That's it. 

So what do I eat? I mostly stick to the things I was eating already, mostly portion controlled healthy meals I learned doing Weight Watcher points. And THEN cut out unhealthy snacks and replaced them with fruit and nuts. I didn't swear off ALL sweets.  I just only allow one or two SMALL (100-200 calorie) snacks a week.  I really don't WANT more than that. At least not right now. (This way of eating really balances out my blood sugar as well.  I have problems actually with low blood sugar, where the body makes too much insulin naturally and drives it down, which will make me crave sugar, shaky, "foggy", get night sweats, and things like that.  That is why for me sugar and carbs make me crave more sugars and carbs. Look it up if you want it is called hypoglycemia (not hyperglycemia) and many people don't realize they have this condition.)

I worry that some people will think that I am saying that if you are overweight it is a spiritual problem, I AM NOT SAYING THAT! I am just saying that conquering my struggles with food and weight loss have been transformed by letting the power of God take over that area of my life. That is all I am saying. God is doing this in me and I owe it to Him to share what He is doing in my life with you. To praise Him and encourage you.

Are you encouraged?